Students at the West Virginia State Capital

Morgantown City Council made a proclamation declaring in the City of Morgantown, West Virginia, A Resolution to Support a Cluster Bomb Ban and to Declare Cluster Bomb/Landmine Awareness Week.
It was presented to the PSALM students on November 5th, 2008 at the Regular City Council Meeting. Students made presentations at the West Virginia State Capital for Legislative Action Day, March, 2009.

Our THANKS to WEST VIRGNIA Senator Byrd for co-sponsorship of the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 416)

President Obama recently signed a law that will make permanent a ban on nearly all cluster bomb EXPORTS from the United States. This provision will move the U.S. one step closer to the position of the nearly 100 nations–including our closest NATO allies–that signed a treaty banning cluster munitions in December.

The legislation states that cluster munitions can only be exported if they leave behind less than one percent of their submunitions as duds, and if the receiving country agrees that cluster munitions “will not be used where civilians are known to be present.”

Now Congress needs to take the next step and ban USE of these deadly weapons. Nearly one in four senators have already cosponsored the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 416) including West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd. Do your senators support this bill? If not, urge them to co-sponsor today. Take Action… urge your senators to cosponsor S. 416, the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act.  This bill states that, “Cluster munitions will not be used where civilians are known to be present or in areas normally inhabited by civilians.” Go to www.uscbl.org and send a letter or postcard. The WVCBL have recently mailed out over 100 postcards and letters encouraging our state and country leaders to support our efforts for a more peaceful world.

WE MADE IT HAPPEN!

The Cluster Munitions Coalition celebrate the signing of the Cluster Ban Treaty, December 3rd, 2008. Students are dedicated to offering humanitarian assistance to those who suffer. In December, 2009, over 100 countries formally signed the treaty in Oslo, Norway. The major focus and objectives of our campaigning work has been about this new treaty. We are excited to be a part of the process and essentially witness the “birth” of a new, international treaty. The treaty was opened for signature in Oslo, Norway on the 3rd December 2008, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The signing in Oslo was a “milestone in this productive diplomatic disarmament process”. On behalf of  The West Virginia Camping to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions/PSALM: Proud Students Against Landmines/Cluster Munitions), PSALM/WVCBL was  represented at the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions Signing Conference on this momentous, historic occasion. The opportunity was truly a tribute to the incredible efforts of our students over the past 10 years. We were able to share with other campaigners the many successful labors of our students and meet with the victims of these devastating weapons, many of which are civilians and children. WVCBL/PSALM urge ALL countries to sign the treaty to ban cluster bombs!

*Photo: Landmines Blow!

Students sponsor “Starfish” Days at school to raise funds for water wells in Cambodia.

2009 PSALM School project: raising funds for Landmines Blow! and water wells in Cambodia

The STARFISH STORY…

“P.S.A.L.M.” (Proud Students Against Land Mines)/ West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines, having expanded our mission to include advocacy toward a prohibition on the use, production, and transfer of cluster munitions are sponsoring events to mark the Global Action to Ban Cluster Bombs. Our projects include: poster making, letter writing, petition drives for the People’s Treaty petition, awareness days and presentations for religious and community organizations. The students have made banners and “MAKE IT HAPPEN” hand art.

Students designed a sculpture of 500 painted shoes with facts about landmines attached. We used the colors of the Colombian flag to represent ther devastation caused by landmines in Colombia.

Students stand in front of shoe pile on Capital Hill. Students contributed over 500 painted shoes with facts about landmines attached. Shoe pile was organized by the ICBL.

West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines began in 1999 as an art project to educate the public about a global social justice issue. Students designed a sculpture of 500 painted shoes with facts about landmines attached. The sculpture was placed in various community locations and eventually traveled, along with the students, to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness. Students continue their efforts to this day to make a difference in the world!

Students Against Landmines known as “P.S.A.L.M.” (Proud Students Against Land Mines/Cluster Bombs) Of Morgantown, West Virginia are working members of the West Virginia, United States, International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Cluster Munitions Coalition. The students work on various projects throughout the school year including: poster making, letter writing, petition drives, awareness days and presentations for local parishes and community organizations.

Students Against Landmines and the West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines are committed to educating the public about the devastation caused by landmines and cluster munitions, and recognize the indiscriminate nature of anti-personnel landmines leading to the destruction of innocent life, especially children, after wartime hostilities have ceased. Our mission includes advocacy toward a prohibition on the use, production, and transfer of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. The impact of unexploded cluster bombs on civilian populations has been particularly pronounced in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Lebanon.

Students are encouraged to dream of a more just and peaceful world and to make that world a reality. The students use their skills and talents to not only learn about these important issues, but to facilitate change for a better world. They are empowered to truly make a difference!